Democracy under threat | Workshop 1

The crackdown against civil society has become a reality in the EU. By attacking those who question the system, the right and the far right are attacking democracy itself, and they are expanding their targets. We progressive forces have to be prepared and change, together, the narrative. We need to intervene when rights, democracy and the rule of law are under attack. Join us to brainstorm how progressive movements can unite and mobilise to defend the rule of law and our fundamental rights against the far-right's anti-social and anti-climate policies. Let's fight back.

Speakers

Desirée Bela-Lobedde Boleche
Writer and speaker

David Cormand
Member of the European Parliament, Europe Écologie-les Verts, France

Carlos Corrochano
Sumar

Giada Negri
Research and policy coordinator at European Civic Forum

Nyanchama Okemwa
Chair of the European Network Against Racism and outreach consultant for Hand in Hand Against Racism

Young Social Summit: meet, organise, win! | Workshop 2

Let's connect the youth-led priorities and movements across Europe! Climate activists, labour unions, student organisations, anti-racist groups, youth councils... young people everywhere come together to put an end to build a socially just system, put an end to inequalities and ensure a future that starts now. Join this workshop organised by the Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG), connect with young activists from all the continent and let's foster shared knowledge and collective action towards the European elections campaign and beyond. By comparing and connection our struggles at the national level, we'll develop and identify strategic areas for cooperation and priorities to focus on. We will also have the chance to get to know and share views with politicians and relevant stakeholders.

Speakers

María Rodríguez Alcázar
President of the European Youth Forum

Yolanda Gil Alonso
President of the ETUC Youth Committee

Hugo Abad Frías
Researcher and ecosocial activist

Zuzana Pavelková
Senior lawyer, Organization for Aid to Refugees (OPU)

Benedetta Scuderi
FYEG Co-spokesperson

Cinta González Sentís
Secretary-General of the Federation of Young European Greens

Nicu Stefanuta
Member of the European Parliament, Greens/EFA Group, Romania

From poverty and precarity to progress and prosperity - delivering on the "Porto Agenda" | Workshop 3

The most vulnerable people in society are those who suffer the most from every crisis, who are constantly forgotten and constantly left behind. We cannot accept that there are still millions of people living in poverty in the richest continent on Earth. So, how can we work together to deliver on the "Porto Agenda" goal to lift 15 million people out of poverty by 2030?

Let's together discuss what tools we can use to ensure that every person gets their fair share for a life of dignity. We will look at what can be done from EU level, like a minimum income Directive, a job guarantee and child guarantee for everyone, and we'll gather ideas from different countries, like the trailblazing pre-distributive proposals from Sumar (Spain) on "the universal inheritance" - a 20,000€ grant for your 18th birthday.

Speakers

Laura de Bonfils
Secretary General of Social Platform

Kahina Rabahi
Policy and advocacy Coordinator at the European Anti-Poverty Network

Mounir Satouri
Member of the European Parliament, Greens/EFA Group, France

"My manager's a robot" - The future of work in a digital age | Workshop 4

Are you curious about how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the landscape of work? Join us for an insightful workshop where we delve into the profound implications of AI on workers' rights, addressing the core aspects of its regulation and the Greens' vision for the future.

In this workshop, we will explore the diverse ways AI is transforming workplaces, ranging from increased automation and efficiency to potential job displacement, surveillance, and evolving skill requirements. AI's rapid advancement raises critical questions about ethics, privacy, and fairness. We will engage in thought-provoking discussions on the regulatory measures required to protect workers and address biases, data protection, and the responsible use of AI in decision-making processes at workplaces.

Our speakers will include national and European decision-makers, researchers, trade unions, and workers. Through engaging discussions with them, we aim to gain valuable insights into their vision for a sustainable and inclusive future, where AI aligns with economic equality, environmental sustainability, and social justice.

Speakers

Alexandra Geese
Member of the European Parliament, Greens/EFA Group, Germany

Fernando García Pallás
Coordinator Digital Platforms at UGT

Mélanie Vogel
Co-chair of the European Green Party

Health is the most important thing | Workshop 5

Health is not a "nice to have" but the pre-condition for the functioning of our society. We need to shift our public health policies to focus on avoiding sickness and governments should prioritise healthy air, access to medicines and to healthcare, water and food for all. And mental health can no longer be pushed aside - we need to look carefully at the impacts of stress and precarity on everybody's well-being.

We need to empower health workers to deliver quality care for everybody. We want to recognise the healthcare professionals that save lives every day, who deserve decent working conditions and wages. Our lives depend on them, and still they get paid very little, they work long hours, and they have a lot of stress. We need to shift our public health policies to focus on avoiding sickness and governments should prioritise healthy air, water and food for all. And mental health can no longer be pushed aside - we need to look carefully at the impacts of stress and precarity on everybody's well-being.

Speakers

Yolanda Gil Alonso
President of the ETUC Youth Committee

José Ramon Becerra
Former Member of the Basque Parliament, Berdeak-Verdes EQUO

Dr. Rafael Cofiño
Member of Parliament for Sumar, Spain

Vanessa López
Executive director of Salud por Derecho

Tilly Metz
Member of the European Parliament, Greens/EFA Group, Luxembourg

Women at the centre of the economy | Workshop 6

We are all squeezed in a system marginalises women, people with disabilities, people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, migrants, the LGBTIQ community, and many others. We need to create an economy that works for today's diverse society and values everyone equally, that provides space for everyone to be a part of it. Women need to take a visible space in the centre of the economy: to close the gender pay gap and to get more women on boards and in positions of power.

We have seen that - if some people are able to keep up with the rhythm of the capitalist economy - it is because they have women in their life doing care and domestic work for free. Care work keeps us all alive and it is a very undervalued and feminised sector. This needs to change. We need to re-think how we value them and how we can ensure that we have a socially inclusive society for all.

Speakers

Magdalena Bordagorry
Policy and Membership Development Officer at Eurodiaconia

Mary Collins
Acting Secretary General, European Women’s Lobby

Elizabeth Duval
Spokeswoman for Feminism, Equality and LGBTI Rights, Sumar

Katrin Langensiepen
Member of the European Parliament, Greens/EFA Group, Germany

Monika Vana
Member of the European Parliament, Greens/EFA Group, Austria

Tax the rich: from slogan to reality | Workshop 7

Inequality is now rifer than it has been in decades. While there are millions of people across the EU and the world struggling to feed themselves or make ends meet, the richest individuals have seen their wealth increase at the expense of the 99%. As Greens/EFA we have commissioned a study to see the potential of a tax on the wealthiest people in the EU and we want to demonstrate what it can bring to finally achieve equality.

Speakers

Susana Ruíz
Global lead on Tax Justice for Oxfam International

Benedetta Scuderi
FYEG Co-spokesperson

Carlos Martín Urriza
Member of Parliament for Sumar, Spain

Phil White
Patriotic millionaire at Patriotic Millionaires UK

Protect our Nature to Protect our Lives: How Nature, Economy, and Social Justice Can Thrive Together | Workshop 8

Last June and July were the hottest months in modern history and brought record ocean temperatures. Heatwaves hit strongly Southern Europe, with the largest wildfires ever recorded and violent floods in Slovenia and Norther Italy. Also regions of the United States, of China and of Norther Africa were deeply damaged. There is no doubt: we are already experiencing the consequences of climate disaster.

The costs of inaction are in front of our eyes. Allianz economists calculated that the the world lost 0.6% of its wealth because of higher temperatures, with Greece and Spain among the regions that were the hardest hit. And that number still does not account for lost lives, biodiversity in smoke, massive reconstruction, closed businesses. Think Maui, Rhodes, Sicily. If the transition does have a cost, the non transition has an even bigger one.

That’s why it can’t wait. But that’s also why the ecological transition needs to be socially balanced. The climate crisis translates directly into a social crisis that disrupts the work and lives of millions of people. The measures we undertake to mitigate climate change must bring immediate and direct help to its victims. Since the start of the energy crisis in September 2021, 646 billion euros of the European Union's money has been set aside to protect consumers from increases in the cost of energy. But according to the think tank Bruegel, ¾ of that money has not ended up in the hands of those who needed it, and citizens have seen their bills rise. This is not acceptable. We urgently need reforms to fight climate change.

We Greens call for a just transition, one in which the resources are properly distributed and the wellbeing of each citizen is paramount. We want to make sure that those who pollute more have to contribute more to useful solutions against climate change.

Our deal can’t be green without being social.

Speakers

Nuria Blázquez
Head of International Affairs of Ecologistas en Acción

Mar González
Co-spokesperson of Verdes Equo Andalucía

Cristina Guarda
Regional councilor for Europa Verde in Veneto, Italy

Grace O’Sullivan
Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA), Ireland

Enrico Somaglia
Deputy Secretary General of the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT)

Vula Tsetsi
Committee Member of the European Green Party, and Secretary General of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament